Chef coats, kitchen trousers and tunics take a neck label, size label and wash-care label inside, a hang tag outside and usually an embroidered logo on the chest. Aprons have no collar, so the brand label moves to the inside of the bib or waistband, and the logo goes on the bib or across the front. Getting custom labels for chef coats and aprons right is mostly about placing each element where it survives a busy kitchen and frequent washing.
Labels inside the garment
Chef coats, trousers and tunics
| Label | Where it goes | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Neck label | Centre back of the collar | Your brand name |
| Size label | With the neck label or beside it | Size, and style if you sell more than one |
| Wash-care label | Side seam | Fibre content and care instructions |
| Trouser label | Inside back waist | Brand name and size |
Chefs wear their coats for long, hot shifts, so a soft, flat neck label is more comfortable than a stiff one. Tell us your preference and we show it on your sample.
Aprons
Aprons have no collar, so the brand label is usually sewn inside the top edge of the bib on a bib apron, or inside the waistband on a waist apron. The wash-care label sits close to it. Because aprons are one adjustable size, there is no size label, which keeps them simple.
Wash-care content
You supply the care wording and symbols. Labelling requirements vary by country, so what you need depends on where the garments are sold or used; this is confirmed at quotation, and we print what you specify. Kitchen workwear is washed often, so clear care instructions help keep colours and logos looking right.
Logos on the outside
Two methods cover most hospitality branding:
- Embroidery suits a logo on a chef coat chest or an apron bib. It gives a raised, lasting finish and looks neat on twill and drill.
- Screen print suits larger logos and flat artwork across an apron front. It is a good choice for café chains with a bold logo or a simple word mark.
Choosing the position
- Chef coat: left chest is the usual place for a logo or restaurant name. A second mark on the sleeve is possible as a separate position.
- Bib apron: centred on the bib, or small on one side if there is a pocket below.
- Waist apron: on the pocket or on one side of the front panel.
- Housekeeping tunic: small logo on the left chest.
- Kitchen trousers: usually left plain, or with a small mark near the pocket.
Send your artwork and the position you want. We suggest the method and size that suit it, then show it on your sample.
Getting the logo right for fabric
A logo designed for a menu or website may need simplifying for thread or print. Very fine lines and small text can lose detail. A bolder version with fewer colours often looks better on an apron bib. On a dark apron, check how your logo colours read against black or a deep shade.
Hang tags
Hang tags matter most for uniform brands and online sellers. A tag shows your brand, the style name, fabric, size and, if needed, a barcode. For hotels and café groups receiving workwear for their own staff, a hang tag is often unnecessary. Say which applies, so the quotation reflects it.
Use one tag design across all styles, changing only the printed details. It keeps reorders simple.
Packing
How you pack depends on who receives the goods.
- Bulk by style and size: suits hospitality suppliers and hotels that hand out workwear themselves.
- Packed by outlet: suits café chains that send a set number of aprons to each branch. Give us the split and we pack to it.
- Individual polybags: each piece folded and bagged with a size sticker; suits uniform brands and online sellers.
- Barcode stickers: placed to your specification. If you sell on a marketplace, confirm its current labelling and packing requirements with the marketplace, and we label and pack to the specification you give us.
Aprons fold flat and pack neatly. Chef coats should be folded so the chest logo is not creased through the middle, and we show the fold on the sample if you have a preference.
What to send with your enquiry
- Logo artwork, ideally as a vector file
- Neck label design, size and material
- Wash-care wording, or the destination country
- Hang tag design, or a note that you do not need one
- Logo position and method for each style
- Packing method, including any split by outlet
- Barcode details if you sell at retail or online
The cost side of these choices is covered in our post on what changes the price of chef coats and aprons. The styles and branding options are on our white label chef coats and aprons page. Send us your artwork and packing plan and we will include everything in your quotation and sample.